Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-29
ARomANCE OF TuE WAR.
The Fate. of . Brave Confederate
soldier Expiatsed AFTER
Tweuty.four Years


A Raleigh (N. CO letter says: Ore
of the romances OF the war has Just de-
veloped here, in which the only son Of
one of North Cardinals Governors
figures. Governor Tod II. Caldwell
during the war resided in hand
some style at the quiet little
town OF Morganton. OF an old
and honored family, he was proud aud
bad but one object of intense affec-
tion-his son John, handsome lad not
twenty years of age. In the winter Of
1862 this only son begged 10 be allowed
10 90 TO the army. Entreaties were OF
no avail, and his father and his mothor
at last consented, with tears, that he
might join the Army OF Northern Vir-
qinia. BE enlisted in the Thirty-third
regiment of North Carolina infantry,
in Lanes brigade, Pender's division,
A. p. Hills corps.
When the campaign opened in 1863
no soldier was more daring than young
Caldwell, and he was soon promoted
from the ranks. In May he was mado
a second lieutenant for his gallant and
meritorious conduct. His regiment
went into the Pennsylvania campaign.
At Gettysburg he was present and in
the hottest of the fight. On the after
noon Of July 3, 1868, his regiment
swept up q slope within fifty yards OF
the Federal lines, went closer yet, and
bayonets were crossed. Suddenly
the line moved back little. Young
Caldwell was never seen alive after that
moment. He was at the front when
the backward movement began. His
father used all the influences OF money
and position 10 find the lost soldier, but
unavailingly. The authorities refused
TO allow the graves TO be opened. IL
could not be ascertained whether he
was dead or alive, and the matter be-
came one of the most terrible uncer-
tainties. Under the strain the minds
of the father and mother were nearly
overcome. The father, grimly nursing
his great sorrow, forbade any one to
mention the sons name. and the ter
rible story was never alluded to, even
by the mother.
In 1871 General Caldwell became
Governor of the State. Two years later,
in 1873, an ex-Confederate soldier
named Lucas, from Hyde county, was
elected to the Legislature, and came to
Raleigh. Some one told him one night
the sad story of the death, or supposed
death, and mystery of John Caldwell.
The next day Lucas called on the
Governor and told him the truth ut
last. Lucas was in another regiment,
and had observed young Cald-
wells brave bearing as they were near
together. In the terrible moment OF
the repulse he had seen young Caldwell
shot down while separated from his men
and fighting, hand to hand, New York
soldier. After hearing this story and
the further details of the burial OF Cald-
well by Lucas, the Governor locked
himself in his room and was all day in
tears. He never told his wife Of the
revelation by Lucas, and told it only TO
his private secretary.
A few days ago Major Charles w.
Cowtan, of New York city, wrote your
correspondent, saying that he had in
his possession the commission Of an Of
ticer in North Carolina regiment,
which he had picked up on the battle
field Of Gettysburg. His regiment,
the Tenth New York, held the line at
that point Just after terrible charge
by the North Carohnians, in which one
fair-haired and boyish officer was brave
in the extreme. Major Cowtan hal
examined some of the dead Confed-
crates, who 80 thickly strewed the
ground mt the works, and near ono
found torn and bloody commission,
on which was legible only "John Ca -
OF the name. Major Cowtan expressed
desire to return this commission II
any relatives OF the dead soldier could
be found. The commission was found
to be that of the long.lost John Cald-
we'll. Yesterday the commission was
sent to Mrs. Caldwell, and this blood
stained and torn piece OF parch-
ment is, she writes, all there
is on earth to remind her OF the dead
son. For years she cherished the hope
that her son was alive and in some pri-
son. In fact, all the prisons were
searched for him, through the influence
Of Governor (now Senator) Vance. 1t
has required twenty-four years TO ascer-
tain the true story. AT the some tirae
the commission was sent her she was
first made acquainted with the facts
told Governor Caldwell in 1878.